Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Programme: A Pilot Study in Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the training materials of a shaken baby syndrome (SBS) prevention programme produced in Western Sydney, Australia, when used with parents in Turkey, and to evaluate the best timing for this training. In this intervention study, a total of 545 mothers, 39.8 per cent of whom were in the first 48 hours after birth (group 1), 43.1 per cent three to seven days after birth (group 2) and 17.1 per cent pregnant (group 3), were tested before and after watching the educational film, for evaluation of their perception, and knowledge of and attitudes towards SBS. The total points measuring the levels of knowledge of shaking hazards changed from an average of 5.0 ± 2.2 pre‐intervention to 6.4 ± 1.7 post‐intervention (p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the pre‐test score, whereas in the post‐test score group one was significantly lower than the other groups (p = 0.001). In conclusion, training using the SBS Prevention Program was useful for mothers; their level of knowledge about the dangers of shaking increased. Education given prior to the birth and three to seven days after the birth was found to be more useful than during the immediate postnatal period. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Training in the SBS Prevention Program was useful for mothers. Their level of knowledge about the dangers of shaking increased. Education given before birth and in the postnatal three to seven days was found to be more useful compared to that given in the immediate postnatal period.

Changing Parents' Behaviour Using a Psycho‐Educational Film as a Preventative Measure to Reduce the Risk of Non‐accidental Head Injury

“…This evaluation, however, was not able to assess whether the programme had an impact on the incidence of injuries. The difficulties in measuring a reduction in the incidence of non‐accidental head injuries are well documented (Tasar et al ., ). The low incidence of non‐accidental head injuries in the population makes it difficult to identify a statistically significant change unless the programme is delivered to a large number of parents (Shanahan et al ., ).…”

“…This finding is important as, although other preventative programmes have clearly demonstrated an impact on knowledge about crying and the dangers of shaking, it is not always clear how this knowledge translates into changes in behaviour (Tasar et al, ). Morrill et al .…”

“…Tasar et al . () found that education given prior to birth and three to seven days after birth was more useful than during the immediate postnatal period. Likewise, Goulet et al () found that the understanding of parents was impaired during the postnatal 48 hours.…”

The Child at the Centre of Care

“…Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) (or abusive head trauma) is a preventable problem, where prevention is crucial. Medine Ayşin Taşar and colleagues () report on an educational prevention programme around the dangers of SBS. These researchers examined how an educational intervention, the SBS prevention programme, originally developed in Sydney, Australia, and directed at parents through an animated film, could be used with parents in Turkey to improve their knowledge and attitudes towards SBS.…”

“…The authors note that ‘leaving the crying infant in a secure room and asking for help were not traditionally acceptable for mothers, especially before training. Although these behaviours significantly increased after training, they were still very low’ (Taşar et al ., , p. 120).…”